Bearing



Aug. 27, 1935. v A, G. F. WALLGREN 2,012,841

BEARING Filed April 19, 1934 m i {g g A m C JL A) L 1J 1 l I III ("in '4' 23 (a? v ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 27, 1935 BEARING- 7 August Gunnar Fei-dinandwallgren, Stockholm,

Sweden, assignorjto Aktiebol'a-get Nomy, Stockhelm, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden h Application April 19, 1934; SerialqNo. 721,273" 7 In Sweden April 29, 1933 I i 1 r I sacral-1m Crete-1 o) v u g r My invention relates to bearings and morepar- Figrlisla sideviewpf a preferred embodiment ticularly to thrust bearings of the sliding block of. my ;invention with one of the members in type which are adapted'to rotate ineither direccross-section;

" Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the tion. a I .7 I

A bearing of this type includes two axially line 2.'2 .of Fig. 1; V i a .5

spaced bearing members; one arranged torotate .Fig; 3 is an .enlargeddetail-viewof a portion with the shaft to be supported and the other arof the bearing shown, in Figs. '1. and 2; ranged stationary. Between these bearing mem- Fig. 4is a view offa portion of; the bearing as I bers there are provided a plurality of bearing shown in Fig. 1, illustrating, inexaggeratedgform,

blocks which are substantially stationary'with the deformation .of'the ,bearing'member; and i0 respect to one of the members and rotate with Fig. 5 is a view, partially in cross-section, of a respect to the other member. The first men- .portionof a bearing in accordance. with a mo,ditioned member and the blocks havecooperating fication of my invention.. l s

surfaces which are arranged to cause tilting of Referring more "particularly to-Figs. 1 and 2,

'5 theblocks in one direction'upon rotation of thereference character IB designates a shaft which shaft in one direction and opposite tilting of the is subjected to a thrustload directed downwardblocks upon rotation of the shaftin theopposite 1y; as viewed in the figures. Rigidly securedqto direction. Means 'are'provided for'allowing a shaft. 10min any suitable manner is. a rotatable slight shifting of the blocks with-respectto the bearing. ring H}v Ring [is-formed with an inner first mentioned member. upona reversal ofdirecannular g'roove l2 at one edge'thereof. The 'sur- 20 tion of rotation in order that the aforesaid tiltface ofone face of ring H is providedwith a pluing may take place. 1 r r I rality of axially extending and peripherally V Inasmuch as all of the blocksina thrust beafspaced projections l3,..which alternate with raing may benormally under'load, it is preferable 'diallyextending grooves M. A pluralityofbearto provide means for unloading the blocks' sucing blocks l5 are-locatedbetween projections 13. 25 cessively in order that they maybe able to'shift The length ofeach block is slightly less than the position upon a reversal of rotation. In myPatperipheraldistance betweeniadjacent projections, ent No. 1,920,727, issued August 1,-1933, there is so that the blocksrnayshift their position slightdisclosed a bearing of this type-in which unload- 1y with respect to the bearing member I i, this ing of the blocks is accomplished by forming one shifting being'limited by the projections l3. .Pro- 30 or more depressions in thebearingsurface of the jections 13 thus serve J as abutments and cause stationary bearing member. Thus, when the the blocks to rotate with member ll. 'Each blocks pass over these depressions the load on block is providedwith a ridge-like portionlfi them is relieved and they are able to shift with which extends into the groove l2 and prevents respect to the rotating bearing member-if a re -radia1 displacement of the blocks, which would 35; versal in direction of rotation has just taken otherwise be caused 'by c'entrifugal force. .'As is place. clearly shown in'Fig. 3, thefsurface of each block Among the objects of the present invention is which contacts and cooperates with the faceiof to provide means whereby the blocks may be suc bearing member H is formed with a'fiat central 1 40 cessively unloaded without resortingto the forpor'tion- I] and slightly inclined end portions 18. 40 mation during manufacture of the'bearing of 'Whenthe bearing rotatesin' the direction-indidepressions or other irregularities in the'bearing cated bythe arrows in Figsbl'and 3, the le'fthand surface of the stationary bearing member. ,This end d of the flat surface I l-bears against the is accomplished by providing a deformable zone shoulder b on the member H adjacentthe left or zones in the stationary bearing member, either hand; side of groove l4,- as'viewed in Fig}. 3, and 45 by weakening certain pomions of the stationary the righthand end cj extends into-the groove. bearing memberor by making the entire 'mem- This oausesthe thrhstload'to be applied to the, ber weak enough to be deformed at any unsupleft of thecenter of theblock which results, upon ported point and leaving certain portions of the rotation of the bearing, the tipping of "the member unsupported so that it will thus be deblock to form'a Wedge-shapedspace I9, shown in 50 formable. exaggerated-form in -Fig.-'3. Upon reversal of Further objects and advantages will appear direction of rotation of the shaft, and consefrom the following description considered in conquently of bearing member H the blocks shift nection with the accompanying drawing which slightly with respect to the bearing member-so forms-a partof thisspecifioationandon-which: that the endeofithe fiat surface l'l'is in con- '55.

block willtilt in the oppositedire'ction. The

wedge-shaped space 'l9serves' to aid in the forma- 7 tion'and retentionof, a wedge-shaped load transmitting film of lubricant between the bearing blocks and'th'e stationary bearing'member.

The stationary bearing member 20 has a smooth 7 uninterrupted bearing surface 2| with respect to which the bearing surface of the blocks l slide.-

During operation there isactually no metal-tometal contact between the blocks and the member 20 due to the aforementioned wedge-shaped of lubricant. a T In order to allow for 'aslightmisalignment of the shaft, the stationary bearing member. 20- is} supported bya stationary supporting mernb erzg 1 with respect to which it may have universal movement by virtue-of the cooperating spherical surfaces'23 of the two members. -Thesupporting member 22 may be secured within a bearing'housing or otherwiserigidly supported. v I In order to facilitate shifting oftheblocks with respect to the rotatable-bearing member I l'upon reversal of rotation, in order to accomplish reversal of' tilting, it is desirable toisuccessively'unload the blocks. In accordance with the'present invention this unloading of the blocksis'accomplished by providing .one. or Ymore deformable zones 24 in the stationary bearing member-20. This is doneby making the..ring of less total thickness in one or- .more portions than in the majority of portions of the :memben: The weakened or deformable zone-shouldhave "a peripheral extent at least'greater than'the length of one of ,the bearing blocks and preferably between two andtwo and aghalf times thelength of a I block. Y. Inthe embodiment :shown, two weakened zones .24 areprovided, as appearsin Fig. 4 shows in an. exaggerated mannenthe wayin which thedeformable zones. 24 effectkthe successive unloading ofthe. blocks. 'Blocks 15a and l5b are each over one endof-the deformable zone 24, while the block] 50 is in, the center of the zone. The axially acting loadson the blocksJBd or i5?) cause them to slightly deformthematerial of the member 20in the weakened zone 24. 1 This resultsin the blocklSc being unsupportedby the member 29 and consequently unloaded. It is therefore free toshift its positiomwith respectto the rotatable bearing member Ii if the direction of rotation. has just changed, As each block passes through the deformable. zone 24 itis free toshift its, position in the same manner as just described in connectionwith block E50, 7 v I Retaining rings 2 5 are advantageously. employed to connect diametrically-opposed blocks l5 and to "prevent relative rotation of these ,blocks; In

other words, diametrically opposed blocks must shift their position together. These rings are located in a groove 26formed in eacli of the bearing. blocks.- In the embodiment shown, twelve bearing blocks are provided and hence sixretaining ringsare required. Because oftheretaining rings, it is necessary to provide diametrically op.-

posed, deformablezones in-the bearing member 2!! in order that diametrically opposed blocks may shift concurrently, upon a reversalpf rotatiom The retaining rings '25 have a dual function.

In the firstplace, these'rings prevent the bearing blocks'from falling out of the bearing in case of disassembly. Secondly, they, prevent the bearing currently.

blocks from assuming incorrect positions. As will be evident from Fig. 2, the individual blocks are retainedin assembled relation with respect to the carrier ring due to the dished form of the outer rings 25. These rings are advantageously made of elastic material so that the blocks may be attached or removed by snapping them on or off bearing members are vertical, and that the direction of'rotation of the shaft is as indicated by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 2. Under these conditions,

the bearing blocks as they move downwardly are in a position such that surfaces a and b are in contact, these surfaces being above the center of gravityof the blocks. As each successive block passes downwardly, into the unloaded zone provided bythe deformable portion 24, the tendency of the block is to shiftits position, due to gravity, so that surfaces o and dare in contact and the lower end ,of the block is in contact with the adjacent projection I3. If this occurred, each block, after passing downwardly through the unloaded zone, would enter the next loaded zone tilted in the wrong direction. The above undesirable shifting-of the blocks is prevented due to theinterconnection'of two opposed blocks. Frictional forces tend to keep the blocks in their proper position and with two diametrically opposed blocks held against relative rotational movement with respect to each otherby the retainingrings, the tendency of any zblock passing downwardly into the unloaded zone at one side of the bearing to drop due to gravity is counterbalanced by-the weight of the oppositely disposed bearing block held by the same retaining ring,

which latter block is passing upwardly through an unloaded, zone provided by the. deformable portion at the otherside of the bearing and hence is acted upon by gravity to retain it in its proper positi0n. 1Since the frictional resistance on all blocks tends to maintain them in proper position and, since the forces of gravity tending to shift .the blocks from proper position are neutralized, the blocks are retained, during their passage through the unloaded zone, in their proper positions with respect to the carrier ring.

' bearing blocks as they pass through this zone.

Preferably, two diametrically opposed cut-away portions 27 are; provided in order that diametrically opposed blocks will be unloaded at the same time so that they may shift their positions con- While I have shown two more or less specific embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that they are for purposes ofillustration only and that other-arrangements may be employed for weakening a certain portion or portions of the bearing member so as to provide a deformable zone or zonestherein. Consequently;

,my invention is not to be limited by'the modifications illustrated,but its scope is to be determined by the appended claims viewed in the light-of the prior art.

What I claim is: Q

1..A bearing of the character-described comprisingrelatively rotatable bearing members, a

plurality of bearing blocks having'operative posi tionslbetwe'en said members, one of saidmembers and said blocks havingcooperating surfaces for causing rotation in one direction-to tilt the blocks one way and rotation-in the-other'direction' to, tilt the blocks the other way, means for permitting and limitingshift of position between said blocks and said one of said members, the other of said members and said blocks having cooperating bearing surfaces, the bearingsurface ofsaid said stationaryibearing member for facilitating" operating surfaces for causing rotation in" one direction to tilt the blocks one way and rotation in the other direction to tilt the blocks the other way, means for permitting and limiting shift of position between said blocks and said rotatable bearing member, said stationary bearing memfber and said blocks having cooperating bearing surfaces, the bearing surface of said stationary member being smooth and uninterrupted; and means providing an unloaded zone for facilitating said shift of position upon reversal of direction of rotation of the bearing. a

3. A hearing of the character described comprising a rotatable bearing member, a stationary bearing member, a plurality of bearing blocks having operative positions between saidmembers, said rotatable member and said blocks having cooperating surfaces for causing rotation in one direction to tilt the blocks one way'and rotation in the other direction to tilt the'blocks the other way, means for permitting and limitingshift of position between said blocks and said rotatable bearing member, said stationary bearing member and said blocks having cooperating bearing surfaces, the bearing surface of said stationary member being smooth and uninterrupted, and

a stationary supporting member for supporting 'said. stationary bearing memben'one of said stationary members being formed with'a portion of reduced thickness so as to provide a deformable zone in said stationary bearing, memberfor facilitating said shift of position upon reversal of direction of rotation of the bearing. I r

4. A hearing of the character described comprising a rotatable bearing member, a stationary position between said blocks and said rotatable bearing member, said stationary bearing member and said blocks having cooperating bearing surfaces, the bearing surface of said stationary member being smooth and uninterrupted, I and said stationary bearingv member being formed with a portion of reduced thicknesssoas to provide a deformable zone therein-for rfacilitating said shift of position upon reversal of direction of rotation of :the' bearing. i l

-5. A bearing of the character described come prising a rotatable bearing member, a stationary bearing membeiga pluralityof bearing blocks having operative positions between said members, said rotatable member and saidblocks' having cooperating surfacesifor causing rotation in one directionto tilt the blocks one way androtation in the other directionto tiltthe blocksJthe other way, means for permitting' and limiting" shift of: posi tionbetween said bloc'ksand' said rotatable bearf '15 said blocks having cooperating bearing surfaces,

ing member, saidstationary bearing member and the bearing surface of said stationary member being smooth and uninterrupted, and a stationary supporting-member forsupporting said stationary bearingxm'ember, said supporting member being formed with a portion of reduced thickness so to provide an unsupported deformable'zone in sa'id shift of position upon reversal-of rotation of the bearing. v o l 6. A bearing of the character'described comprising a rotatable bearing 'rnember; a stationary direction of bearing member, a plurality of bearing blocks hav- .ing operative positions between said members, said rotatable member and said blocks havingcoopcrating surfaces for causing rotation in one direction 'to' tilt the blocks one way and rotation in the other direction to tilt the blocks the other way, means for permitting and limiting shift of position between said blocks and said rotatable bear ing member, said stationary bearing member and said blocks having cooperating bearing surfaces,

the bearing surface of saidstationary member reversal of direction of the rotation of the bearing.

7. A bearing of thecharacter described comprising a rotatable bearing member, a stationary bearing member, a-plurality of bearing blocks having operative positions between said members, said rotatable member and said blockshaving cooperating surfaces for causing rotation in one direcbetween said blocks and said rotatable bearing" member, said stationary bearing member and said "blocks'having cooperating bearing, surfaces, the

bearing surface of said stationary; member being smooth and. uninterrupted, and a stationary supporting member for supporting'said stationary bearing membenone of said stationary members being formed with a plurality of portions arreduced thickness so as to provide a plurality ofde formable zones in said stationary' bearing member for facilitating simultan'eous'shift of position of a of direction bearing memberIa plurality of bearing blocks having operative positions between saidjmembers, saidgrotatable member, and said blocks having cooperating surfacesfor causing rotation inone 45, ber for facilitating said shift of position" upon duced thickness for provid'mgdeformable zones through which opposed bearing blocks are adapt- 15. A bearing of the character describedwcomprising a rotatable bearing member, a stationary bearing member, a plurality of bearing blocks having operative positions between said members, said rotatable member and said blocks having-co,-

operating surfacesv for causing rotation ,in' one direction to tilt the blocks one way and rotation in the other direction to tilt' the blocks the-other way, means for permitting andlimiting shift of position between said blocks and said rotatable bearing member, saidstationary bearing member and said blocks havingcooperatingibearing surfaces, the bearing surface of said stationary member being smooth and uninterrupted, a stationary supporting member for supporting ,saidstationary bearing member, said supporting memberbeing formed with diametrically opposed portions of reduced thickness so as to provide diametrie, cally oppposed unsupported deformable zones in said stationary bearing member for facilitating shift of position of diametricallylopposed blocks upon reversal of direction of rotationof said'bearing, and means cooperating with diametrically opposed blocks to prevent relativerotation.there'- of with respect to eachother, whereby to prevent shift of position of one block Without correspond ing shift of positioni'of a diametrically opposed block.

16. An axial thrust bearing of the'type, having for rotation in one direction and the otherlway for rotationin the opposite direction,,said .member having: diametrically opposed portions of re- 17. An axial thrust bearing of the typehavin'g sliding bearing blocks comprising a Waring member having a smooth uninterrupted surface :with' respect to which the bearing blocks are adapted to slide, and means for tilting the-blocks one way for rotation in one-direction and'theother way for rotation in the opposite direction, said memher having a portion of reduced thickness for providing a deformable zone through which the bearing blocks are adapted to passfor facilitating change in tilting of the blocks upon reversalof direction of rotation. i

18. A bearing of the character described comprising a rotatable bearing membenastationary bearing member, a plurality of bearing blocks having operative positions between said members, said rotatable member and said blocks having cooperating surfaces for causing rotation in one direction to tilt the blocks one way and rotation in the other direction to tilt the blocks the other way, means for permitting and limiting shift of position between said blocks and said rotatable bearing member, said stationary bearing member and said blocks having cooperating bearing surfaces, the bearing surface of said stationary mem- --ber being smooth and uninterrupted, and a stationary supporting member for supporting said stationary bearing member, one of said stationary members being formed with a portionhaving less total thickness of material in axial direction than the major portion of the member'so as to provide a deformable zone in said stationary bearing member for facilitating said shift of position upon reversal of direction of rotation of the bearing, t. i j

19.; A bearin of the character described com-[ prising a rotatablebearing member; a stationary bearing member, a plurality of bearing blocks having operative positions between said members,

7 said rotat'able' -member-and said blocksghaving cober beingwsmooth 'andguninterrupted, and said stationary, bearing member being formed with a; portion-having less'- total-thickness of material in axial; direction than the major. portionofthe member'so aslto provide a deformable zonetherei.

in for facilitating said shift of position upon reversalv of ,direction-,of rotation .of the bearing.

o 20;;An' axialthru'st bearing of the 'typehavin'g sliding bearingi'blocks comprising a bearing memberHhaving-a smoothiuninterrupted surface with respect to which the bearing blocks are: adapted to slide,gand means,for tilting the blocks one way for rotationrinionedirection and'the other way for rotation in the opposite. direction, said member, having a portion ofless total thickness of' material'in axial :directionthan the major portion of the mem'ber for providing a deformable .zone throughwhich the bearing blocks are'adapted to pass'for facilitating change in tilting of the blocks upon -reversal;.of direction .of rotation. 2 L .An axial'thrust bearing of the type having slidinglbearing blocks comprising-a bearing mem ber ihaving asmooth uninterrupted surface with respect to which the bearing blocks are adapted to slide, and means 'fortilting thejblocks-one way forrotation in one direction'and the other way for rotation. in the'oppOsite directiomsaid mem ber having diametrically opposed portions of less total't'hickness of material in axial direction than the remaining portions for providing deformable zonesthrough which opposed bearing blocks are adapted to pass concurrently for facilitating change intiltingof the'blocks upon reversal of drrection of-rotation; i r

22 Abearing ofthe character described comprising a rotatable bearing'member, a stationary bearing memben aplurality of bearing blocks having operative positions'between-said members, said rotatable member and said blocks having cooperating surfaces for causing rotation'in one direction to tilt the blocks one way and rotation in the other direction to tilt the blocks the other way, means for permitting and limiting shift of position between said blocks and said rotatable ary bearing member foriacilitating said shift of position upon reversal of direction of rotation of the bearing.

23. A bearing of the character described comprising a rotatable bearing member, a stationary bearing member, a plurality of bearing blocks 7 having operative positions between said members, said rotatable memberand said'blocks having cooperating surfaces for causing rotationin one' direction to tilt the blocks one way and rotation in' th'e other direction to tilt the blocks the other -way, means'forpermitting and limiting shift of position between said. blo'cksrand said rotatable I bearing member, said stationary bearing member and said blocks having'cooperating bearing surfaces, the bearing surface of said. stationary mem ber being-smooth and uninterrupted; and said sta- 1 tionary bearing member "being formed with a -24. An axial thrust bearing of the type having a sliding bearing blocks comprisinga bearing member having 'a-smooth uninterrupted surface with respect towhich the'bearing blocks are: adapted to slide, and means for tilting the blocks oneway for rotation in one direction and the otherway for rotation in the opposite direction, said member having a weakened. portion for, providing a deformable zone through which the bearingbloclrs are adapted to pass'for facilitatingchange in 1 tilting of the blocks upon reversal ofdirection of ing member and said blocks having cooperating i bearing surfaces and "said stationary bearing 1 member beingrformed with a recess spaced from "the bearing surface thereof so' as to provide a rotation. I 25. An axial ing sliding bearing blocks comprisinga bearing, member having a 'smoothnninterrupted surface with respect to which. the bearing blocks are; T adapted to slide, and means for tilting the blocks ed to pass concurrently for facilitating changein' V tilting of the blocks upon reversal of direction of rotation. i=1 Y I 26. An axial thrust bearing of the typeihaving sliding bearingblockscomprising a bearingmemher having a surface with respectsto which: the bearing blocks are adapted-to slide, and means for tilting the blocks one way forrotation in one direction and the other way for rotation in the oppositedirection, said member having a portion of reduced thickness formed by a recess in a surface of, said memb' eropposite said first mentioned surface for providing a deformable zone throughwhich'the bearing blocks are adapted to pass for facilitating change intilting of the blocks upon reversal ofdirectionr-of rotation. 27. A hearing of the character described comthrust bearing of the type hav prisingrelatively rotatable bearing members, a plurality of bearing blocks having operative positions between said members, one of said mem bers and said blocks having cooperating surfaces for causing rotation in one direction to tilt for permitting and limiting shift of position between said blocks and said one of said members, the other of said members and said blocks having cooperating bearing surfaces, and means proprising a rotatable bearing member, a stationary 7 bearing member, a plurality of bearing blocks having operative positions between said members, said rotatable member and said blocks hav ing cooperating surfaces for causing rotation in one direction to tilt the blocks one way and rotation in the other direction to tilt the blocks the other way, means for permitting and limiting shift of position betweensaid blocks and said rotatable'bearing member, said stationary beardeformable zone therein for said shift of position upon reversal of direction of rotation of the bearing. V

[29. A hearing of the character described comprising a rotatable bearing member, a stationary bearing member, a plurality of bearing blocks having operative positions between said members, said rotatable member and said blocks having cooperating surfaces for causing rotation in one direction to tilt the blocks one way and rotation inthe'other direction to tilt the blocks the other way, means'for permitting and limiting shift of position between said blocks and said rotatable bearing member, said stationary bearing member and said blocks having cooperating bearing surfaces, and a stationary supporting 'member for supporting said stationary bearing member, said supporting member being formed with aportion of reduced thickness so as to provide-an unsupported deformable zone in said stationarybearing member for facilitating said shift ofposition upon reversal of direction of rotation of the bearing. 7

AUGUST GUNNAR FERDINAND WALLGREN. 

